Hope all of you are enjoying the holiday hustle and bustle, no matter which holiday you celebrate! I particularly love all the Christmas lights... just love them. They help fight off all that darkness!
I offered some goat poop to my girlfriend to put in her yard as evidence of Santa's reindeer. She politely declined.
We decided I could spray paint it with some sort of glitter sealant, package it up and sell it on EBay as Santa's reindeer poop.
Why glitter?
Oh, everyone knows that Santa's reindeer poop rainbows and glitter... don't they?
I read somewhere about someone who spray painted their goat poo metallic colors and strung it with thread like popcorn garland for their tree... hmmmm.
Maybe next year I'll experiment with goat poop and how to incorporate it into the holidays.... do you think it'll catch on?
Monday, December 20, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sera vs. Rosso
I think it's hard to have two horses. I've always owned one. Learned that one horse and that horse's abilities and quirks. Currently I'm riding both Sera and Rosso each weekend with Rex.
It's really interesting to see how they differ.
I am perfectly comfortable on Sera - even if she's a bit of a bitter fish at times. We were working on flying changes earlier in the year. Last Sunday we were in the middle of a 3 loop serpentine at canter for the counter-canter. During the middle loop her little ears went back, she wrinkled a nostril and she leaped in the air kicking out with both back legs.
Flying change.
Not a pretty one tho' it was clean I am told. I don't have much feel for this yet either. We aren't at the part of "learning a flying change" where it's pretty yet. Not even close.
I wasn't expecting it.
It was this big, sort of ugly, surprising movement... I laughed a bit and on we went not skipping a beat. It didn't unsettle me or unseat me. Not one little bit.
She is high headed and short backed. Partly the way she's built. She holds in her back notoriously. She can never be deep enough. When she gets tense - at a show or when learning new things - up goes her neck and her back locks against me.
When I think she is deep and long in her neck, and I feel happy because I've gotten her stretching down so much? We go past a mirror. Uh. Right. She really isn't all that deep - nothing to be proud of so much. Makes me laugh at myself. Especially compared to other horses who seem to root in the arena sand with their noses.
She is a hard nut to crack from front to back but she really, really likes her lateral work. When she gets tired, she rushes, gets on the forehand and tries to anticipate what I want. I have to half halt to slow her down, get her attention back on me and what I'm asking.
Then I ride Rosso.
And while my confidence is returning... I am very aware of paying attention to his body language. His ears. If they shoot forward and focus on one thing and his head begins to come up... I better get his attention back on me pronto.
I don't think he'd really do much in Rex's indoor arena and he's never had a big, violent outburst with a rider. My issue is in my head. I know this.
I don't fully trust him. Not yet anyway. I think we are on the right road to having a good relationship but... it's not there yet. Lots more work ahead of us. Ahead of me, that is, in my funny, wee, little brain.
He is tall and leggy with a long back. He carries himself very low... hello... where ARE his ears? He doesn't curl up and disappear; I can still feel him in the reins but he is one of the sort of horses that would like to root around in the sand with his upper lip. Very opposite of Sera and what I'm used to from riding her. Can be a bit unsettling to me.
His back is very loose and relaxed. He is long and limber with lots of movement. He is easy to balance from front to back - not so much in the lateral movement. When Rosso gets tired he offers to stop. All of a sudden there just isn't much forward anymore. He half stops and I push, push, push him to go on as he is slowly fading away.
Go figure.
It's really interesting to see how they differ.
I am perfectly comfortable on Sera - even if she's a bit of a bitter fish at times. We were working on flying changes earlier in the year. Last Sunday we were in the middle of a 3 loop serpentine at canter for the counter-canter. During the middle loop her little ears went back, she wrinkled a nostril and she leaped in the air kicking out with both back legs.
Flying change.
Not a pretty one tho' it was clean I am told. I don't have much feel for this yet either. We aren't at the part of "learning a flying change" where it's pretty yet. Not even close.
I wasn't expecting it.
It was this big, sort of ugly, surprising movement... I laughed a bit and on we went not skipping a beat. It didn't unsettle me or unseat me. Not one little bit.
She is high headed and short backed. Partly the way she's built. She holds in her back notoriously. She can never be deep enough. When she gets tense - at a show or when learning new things - up goes her neck and her back locks against me.
When I think she is deep and long in her neck, and I feel happy because I've gotten her stretching down so much? We go past a mirror. Uh. Right. She really isn't all that deep - nothing to be proud of so much. Makes me laugh at myself. Especially compared to other horses who seem to root in the arena sand with their noses.
She is a hard nut to crack from front to back but she really, really likes her lateral work. When she gets tired, she rushes, gets on the forehand and tries to anticipate what I want. I have to half halt to slow her down, get her attention back on me and what I'm asking.
Then I ride Rosso.
And while my confidence is returning... I am very aware of paying attention to his body language. His ears. If they shoot forward and focus on one thing and his head begins to come up... I better get his attention back on me pronto.
I don't think he'd really do much in Rex's indoor arena and he's never had a big, violent outburst with a rider. My issue is in my head. I know this.
I don't fully trust him. Not yet anyway. I think we are on the right road to having a good relationship but... it's not there yet. Lots more work ahead of us. Ahead of me, that is, in my funny, wee, little brain.
He is tall and leggy with a long back. He carries himself very low... hello... where ARE his ears? He doesn't curl up and disappear; I can still feel him in the reins but he is one of the sort of horses that would like to root around in the sand with his upper lip. Very opposite of Sera and what I'm used to from riding her. Can be a bit unsettling to me.
His back is very loose and relaxed. He is long and limber with lots of movement. He is easy to balance from front to back - not so much in the lateral movement. When Rosso gets tired he offers to stop. All of a sudden there just isn't much forward anymore. He half stops and I push, push, push him to go on as he is slowly fading away.
Go figure.
They are complete opposites.
Hopefully these differences, recognizing them and riding them will make me a better rider and horse person.
Hope I figure it out.
Or one of these days, I'll be living in a van down by the river.....
Hopefully these differences, recognizing them and riding them will make me a better rider and horse person.
Hope I figure it out.
Or one of these days, I'll be living in a van down by the river.....
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Song in your heart?
You ever wake up with a song playing over and over in your head? Like the instant your eyes open there is this song in your head in a loop.... you aren't even fully conscious yet and here is this song playing, clear as day, in your brain.
Today I woke up with that 70's? 80's? song... "Domo arrigato Mr. Robot-O"
What the hell is that?
I don't know any more of the song other than that stupid phrase. I don't know who sings it. I never liked it. I never bought it. Never encouraged anyone around me to listen to it and yet....
Today. December 16, 2010. 9 days away from Christmas. In my 40th year of life. This is the song stuck in my head when my little sleepy eyes cracked open.
Where did it come from? Why is that taking up any space in my brain. C'mon - I need all the brain cells I can spare. I don't need to waste them on a file like that.
Two weeks ago I woke up with Whitney Houston in my head. A song from before she got all whacked out and drugged up with Bobby Brown. Talk about a bad influence. Don't get near that Bobby Brown. He'll mess you up.
"I believe that children are our future... teach them well and let them guide the way... show them all the beauty they posses insiiiiiide..... "
Seriously. Did I ever own Whitney Huston albums? No. My little sister liked her. Did I? No. Did I wanna dance with somebody? No.
Brain?
You and I need to have a talk.
No more.
I don't know what you are up to while I'm sleeping. Don't know what sort of parties you go to. Don't care. No more of this crappy 70 and 80's music. C'mon. I mean it. Quit with the bad music.
Quit bringing it home with you.
Stop.
I'm serious.
Are you listening to me?
Today I woke up with that 70's? 80's? song... "Domo arrigato Mr. Robot-O"
What the hell is that?
I don't know any more of the song other than that stupid phrase. I don't know who sings it. I never liked it. I never bought it. Never encouraged anyone around me to listen to it and yet....
Today. December 16, 2010. 9 days away from Christmas. In my 40th year of life. This is the song stuck in my head when my little sleepy eyes cracked open.
Where did it come from? Why is that taking up any space in my brain. C'mon - I need all the brain cells I can spare. I don't need to waste them on a file like that.
Two weeks ago I woke up with Whitney Houston in my head. A song from before she got all whacked out and drugged up with Bobby Brown. Talk about a bad influence. Don't get near that Bobby Brown. He'll mess you up.
"I believe that children are our future... teach them well and let them guide the way... show them all the beauty they posses insiiiiiide..... "
Seriously. Did I ever own Whitney Huston albums? No. My little sister liked her. Did I? No. Did I wanna dance with somebody? No.
Brain?
You and I need to have a talk.
No more.
I don't know what you are up to while I'm sleeping. Don't know what sort of parties you go to. Don't care. No more of this crappy 70 and 80's music. C'mon. I mean it. Quit with the bad music.
Quit bringing it home with you.
Stop.
I'm serious.
Are you listening to me?
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Goat Ultrasound Party.
The above is what Furry Husband and I did Saturday night.
We are pretty weird. (I didn't really need to tell you that did I?)
We went to the Larson's house... they were ultra sounding their does. We coulda brought our does too but since we aren't breeding them this year, it would have been even weirder if we brought them.
We watched a goat being ultra sounded.... the vet couldn't see anything indicating pregnancy.
She stopped, walked over to a cupboard and pulled out this soft case that looked like a shotgun cover.
Furry Husband said, "Wow. You guys are hard core. She's not pregnant so now you're gonna shoot her?"
Nope.
Worse.
The soft shotgun case held a long thin ultrasound attachment. It was lubed up and promptly inserted into said doe's rectum.
Guess it gives a clearer pix than the ultrasound roller whatjamacallit on the outside of the goat's belly.
Turns out the doe WAS pregnant after all. Cigars all around.
I became so absorbed in trying to read ultrasound screens that I didn't notice Furry Husband slipped out with Mr. Larson to go in the house, out of the cold and product test the hot chili bubbling on the stove and the frosted Christmas cookies...
Does that make me a bad wife? I didn't even notice he was gone! I was too absorbed with goats. Am I a bad person?
The rest of the does were ultra sounded and I can say with absolute confidence, I can identify a goat bladder full of pee on ultrasound.
Uterus? Nope. Can't see it.
Placenta? No.
Baby goat-lets? Right. No. I can't i.d. them either.
I can tell if a goat has to pee tho'.
And I think that could save some one's pants or shoes from splash back.
So yeah. I think i.d.ing a full goat bladder is pretty important.
We are pretty weird. (I didn't really need to tell you that did I?)
We went to the Larson's house... they were ultra sounding their does. We coulda brought our does too but since we aren't breeding them this year, it would have been even weirder if we brought them.
We watched a goat being ultra sounded.... the vet couldn't see anything indicating pregnancy.
She stopped, walked over to a cupboard and pulled out this soft case that looked like a shotgun cover.
Furry Husband said, "Wow. You guys are hard core. She's not pregnant so now you're gonna shoot her?"
Nope.
Worse.
The soft shotgun case held a long thin ultrasound attachment. It was lubed up and promptly inserted into said doe's rectum.
Guess it gives a clearer pix than the ultrasound roller whatjamacallit on the outside of the goat's belly.
Turns out the doe WAS pregnant after all. Cigars all around.
I became so absorbed in trying to read ultrasound screens that I didn't notice Furry Husband slipped out with Mr. Larson to go in the house, out of the cold and product test the hot chili bubbling on the stove and the frosted Christmas cookies...
Does that make me a bad wife? I didn't even notice he was gone! I was too absorbed with goats. Am I a bad person?
The rest of the does were ultra sounded and I can say with absolute confidence, I can identify a goat bladder full of pee on ultrasound.
Uterus? Nope. Can't see it.
Placenta? No.
Baby goat-lets? Right. No. I can't i.d. them either.
I can tell if a goat has to pee tho'.
And I think that could save some one's pants or shoes from splash back.
So yeah. I think i.d.ing a full goat bladder is pretty important.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sugared Nuts
I'm making these tonight for my Mom-in-Law's Christmas care package...they are so easy and so tasty! Wanted to share them with you. Watch out tho... you leave them around your house and you WILL eat them.
1 lb unsalted nuts - (walnut, pecan, almond halves and or pieces - whatever blows your skirt up)
1 Tbl water
1 C sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (more or less to taste - flexible)
1 egg white
1 small capful of vanilla extract or orange extract or cointreau (optional)
Preheat oven to 250
Whip egg white til frothy - not stiff
Add water and flavor, mix gently
Coat nuts with the egg white mix until all nuts are shiny
In a separate bowl mix cinnamon, sugar and salt together. Fold it into the wet nuts until all are well coated.
Coat a baking sheet with butter, spread nuts evenly in a single layer.
Bake for 15 minutes. Take them out of the oven, turn them with a spatula, put 'em back in and continue cooking for 45 more minutes. (recipe is very forgiving if you go a few minutes over)
Cool on wax or parchment paper
They freeze well and it's very easy to double the recipe. Yum, yum and yum.
1 lb unsalted nuts - (walnut, pecan, almond halves and or pieces - whatever blows your skirt up)
1 Tbl water
1 C sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (more or less to taste - flexible)
1 egg white
1 small capful of vanilla extract or orange extract or cointreau (optional)
Preheat oven to 250
Whip egg white til frothy - not stiff
Add water and flavor, mix gently
Coat nuts with the egg white mix until all nuts are shiny
In a separate bowl mix cinnamon, sugar and salt together. Fold it into the wet nuts until all are well coated.
Coat a baking sheet with butter, spread nuts evenly in a single layer.
Bake for 15 minutes. Take them out of the oven, turn them with a spatula, put 'em back in and continue cooking for 45 more minutes. (recipe is very forgiving if you go a few minutes over)
Cool on wax or parchment paper
They freeze well and it's very easy to double the recipe. Yum, yum and yum.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
What's on top of a house?
and our dogs say, "ROOF! ROOF!"
Before. Sad. T-lock shingles. (see the dogs? 1, 2 and 3!)
Roof felt.
Voila! Little copper colored roof!
Before. Sad. T-lock shingles. (see the dogs? 1, 2 and 3!)
Roof felt.
Voila! Little copper colored roof!
Front.
Back.
Back.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Mr. Burns
I'm taking these pretty dry on-line courses at work.
They are interspersed with random test questions to make sure you grasp a concept. When you answer it correctly - the word Excellent. complete with a period at the end appears in small, newsprint font on the bottom left hand corner of the window.
Every time it appears I hear Mr. Burns, in my mind, saying "Excellent"....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)